Type of spinnaker

[aloha28]

Hi there,

Is someone able to please confirm the type of spinnaker I have?
I’m new to spinnakers and am not sure if red end (port) or green end (starboard) of spinnaker is intended to be the “tack” attached to bow. Or if this is in fact a symmetrical spinnaker is it not the case that both red and green ends of spinnaker would be attached to lines/sheets (in picture) along port and starboard and cleated off aft of the bow?

So basically I am not certain on
1. Do I have a symmetrical or asymmetrical spinnaker?
2. Which side of the spinnaker is the tack?
3. If the tack must be attached to a spinnaker pole or can I attach at bow?

Thanks in advance
Brad



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[wholybee]

Lay it out on the grass and measure it. If both sides are the same length, then it is a symmetrical and requires a pole. If one side is shorter, then it is asymmetrical and the shorter side is the luff with the tack, and the longer side the leech, with the clew.

[Tin Tin]

It is unlikely an asymmetric would have a green and red clew.

[Apollo19.5]

Originally Posted by wholybee

Lay it out on the grass and measure it. If both sides are the same length, then it is a symmetrical and requires a pole. If one side is shorter, then it is asymmetrical and the shorter side is the luff with the tack, and the longer side the leech, with the clew.

Other way around. Longer is luff (front), shorter is leach (back).

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Apollo19.5

Other way around. Longer is luff (front), shorter is leach (back).

Yes, my mistake.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by wholybee

Lay it out on the grass and measure it. If both sides are the same length, then it is a symmetrical and requires a pole. If one side is shorter, then it is asymmetrical and the shorter side is the luff with the tack, and the longer side the leech, with the clew.

You don’t need to fly a symmetric with a pole if you are sailing downwind angles (90-140 AWA). I use my symmetric with a pole for deep downwind and tacked to bow for reaching angles

[Don C L]

Sounds like you have a symmetrical spinnaker and yes the red is for port. Either side can be the tack depending on your angle to the wind. The pole will be attached to the tack of the luff and will be controlled by the after guy. That will be the leading edge. You decide that. The cringle on the other corner is then the clew and will be controlled by the sheet. When I was a kid I didn't have after guys on mine, I just controlled it with the sheet.

[Gone Gypsy]

We definitely have an asymmetrical that has red and green clews. Measure it. Then if needed add a sleeve and think about a spin deploy box bag. Making it easy to deploy and especially to strike and store means you’ll even use it a second (third and fourth) time.

[Tin Tin]

Originally Posted by Gone Gypsy

We definitely have an asymmetrical that has red and green clews. Measure it. Then if needed add a sleeve and think about a spin deploy box bag. Making it easy to deploy and especially to strike and store means you’ll even use it a second (third and fourth) time.

What is the point of red and green clews on an asymmetric?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

What is the point of red and green clews on an asymmetric?

Once you identify the tack and the clew and find which color goes where it will help sort it out in the bag whilst getting ready to set it.

Jim

[Calif.Ted]

I've only seen asymmetrics labeled "tack" and "clew", red and green would be meaningless, which is the tack????

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

I've only seen asymmetrics labeled "tack" and "clew", red and green would be meaningless, which is the tack????

Well, once you figure it out it ain't meaningless, is it? I agree that labeling ls common and better, but color coding red and green doesn't have to mean port and starboard!

And from the evidence posted upthread, some sailmakers choose to use color.

Jim

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

What is the point of red and green clews on an asymmetric?

Rigging at night or in a hurry. The colors would be easy to identify, if you know which is which.